The fleet had a nice easy start to the day, taking the time enjoy a cup of coffee while contemplating the sea otters, cozied up and asleep in a floating raft. The brothers on Bonum Vitae decided they liked serene Dundas Bay so well, that they were going to stay an extra night on the hook. So as the sun climbed higher in the sky, the fleet bid the seas otters, Bonum Vitae and Dundas Bay farewell.

We got underway headed for Elfin Cove. Shortly thereafter, the fleet spotted blows on the horizon, and slowed to watch a mother humpback with her little calf. “Little” in this instance is relative to the mother since humpback calves are born weighing just under two tons! After watching the two humpbacks swim for a time, the calf taking two breathes for mom’s one, the fleet bid the humpback family farewell and continued on to Elfin Cove.

Drawing close to the entrance to Elfin Cove the fleet slowed again in order to watch, listen to and smell a whole lot of sea lions. Some sea lions were lounging on the rocks, while others, mostly juvenile males, were fighting for positions on the rocks amongst each other. Some sea lions were in the water gracefully fishing in the kelp beds and playfully jumping along in our wake. What a life to lead here in costal Alaska!

Right at high tide our fleet pulled into Elfin Cove’s inner harbor and tied up alongside a number of fishing vessels and a few long timers. Crews hopped of their boats to stretch their legs on the boardwalk, taking in the charming hamlet of Elfin Cove. Some crews decided to take a little walk outside town, and followed the trail that meanders past the waterfall and through some of the finest salmon berry patches in SE Alaska. A local, Lance the lab, decided to be our guide and joined us for our walk. That evening the fleet rounded out the day with a scrumptious dinner at the Coho Café.